4/17. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1244 — Two Rows in Time of Danger
Whoever Said That The Imam Should Lead Each Of The Two Groups In One Rak'ah Then Say The Taslim, Then Those That Are Behing Him Should Stand Up And Complete Another Rak'ah, Then The Other Group Should Take This Groups Place And Pray One Rak'ah
Fear Prayer Hadith: Two Rows and Shared Responsibility
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1244
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1244
حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خُصَيْفٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ فَقَامُوا صَفَّيْنِ صَفٌّ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَصَفٌّ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْعَدُوِّ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ جَاءَ الآخَرُونَ فَقَامُوا مَقَامَهُمْ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ هَؤُلاَءِ الْعَدُوَّ فَصَلَّى بِهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ فَقَامَ هَؤُلاَءِ فَصَلَّوْا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ سَلَّمُوا ثُمَّ ذَهَبُوا فَقَامُوا مَقَامَ أُولَئِكَ مُسْتَقْبِلِي الْعَدُوِّ وَرَجَعَ أُولَئِكَ إِلَى مَقَامِهِمْ فَصَلَّوْا لأَنْفُسِهِمْ رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ سَلَّمُوا .
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer in the time of danger. They (the people) stood in two rows. One row was behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the other faced the enemy. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them in one rak'ah, and then the other section came and took their place; they went and faced the enemy.The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in one rak'ah and uttered the salutation. They stood up and prayed the second rak'ah by themselves and uttered the salutation and went away; they took the place of the other section facing the enemy. They came back and took their place. They prayed one rak'ah by themselves and then uttered the salutation.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1244In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 47English translation : Book 4, Hadith 1239
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1244
This fear prayer hadith from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud describes the prayer in the time of danger. The people stood in two rows. One row was behind the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the other row faced the enemy. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم led the first row in one rak'ah. Then the other section came and took their place, while the first group went to face the enemy. He led the second section in one rak'ah and gave salutation. After that, each section completed its own second rak'ah and gave salutation. The simple message is that the prayer was not dropped, and the people did not act without order. Each row prayed and also took care of the danger facing the group.
What we learn from this hadith
- The people were arranged in two rows for prayer and protection.
- Each row prayed one rak'ah with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The rows exchanged places so each group could take its turn.
- Each section completed its own prayer after the Prophet’s salutation.
